MEN'S BASKETBALL: Oakland knocks off another Summit League leader at O'rena

ROCHESTER -- Following a home court loss to South Dakota last month, Oakland is showing an ability to beat the Summit League's best at the O'rena. The Golden Grizzlies fought off second-half deficits and won the game on an outstanding defensive play to beat Summit League leader North Dakota State, 66-63, Thursday.

"If that (South Dakota) game hadn't occurred, we'd be playing for first place," Oakland coach Greg Kampe said. "You have to reset your sights and you continue to get better and we know that in February we have an unbelievable streak going.

"This team has got to continue to get better and follow that path Oakland teams have followed. If we do, we're going to be a tough out in (the Summit League tournament)."

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Oakland has won 18 straight conference games at home in the month of February since 2008.

"It's the way we practice and we talk about it all year long," Kampe said. "We drill it into their heads that their legs are fresh and they can play."

The Bison entered the game in a three-way tie for first place in the Summit League with a 9-2 record, tied with Western Illinois, which Oakland beat on Homecoming Jan. 26, and South Dakota State, which visits Saturday.

Oakland guard Duke Mondy, who leads the nation in steals, stole the ball from North Dakota State's TrayVonn Wright and and took it down the court where he made a floater in the lane to put Oakland up one point, 64-63, with 22 seconds to play. Mondy later sealed the game from the free-throw line with six seconds remaining.

"It was just confidence," he said. "I believe in myself that I can make those shots."

Mondy had four steals in all to go with his 11 points in 34 minutes off the bench. The Golden Grizzlies are on a four-game winning streak, their longest of the season, with Mondy being used as a reserve.

"Whatever my role is to help this team win, that's what I'm going to do," he said of the arrangement. "We're undefeated with me coming off the bench, so ..."

The Bison (18-6, 9-3), ranked No. 17 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 poll, picked up just their first win at the O'rena last season. They were led by 21 points from Lawrence Alexander, 12 points each from Wright and Marshall Bjorklund.

After Oakland opened the game with a 5-0 lead, North Dakota State went on an 8-0 run and eventually led by as many as seven points with 11:39 until halftime. The Grizzlies, though, held a 35-26 halftime advantage.

After Oakland's lead hit 10 points early in the second half, the Bison kept it within single digits for much of the period. They took the lead back on multiple occasions, going up by as many as four points down the stretch after Wright converted twice at the free-throw line with 2:10 to play.

Oakland, which shot just 67 percent (14 of 21) from the free-throw line, positioned itself to retake the lead from the line. Corey Petros split a pair of free throws with 1:57 to play and Drew Valentine made both attempts with 28 seconds remaining to pull Oakland within one point, 64-63, before Mondy came up with the steal.

North Dakota State, which shot 46 percent from the floor, did not make a field goal over the final 4:21 of the game and only scored two points, on Wright's free throws with 2:10 to play.

The Bison outrebounded the Grizzlies, 36-28, and Oakland forced 11 North Dakota State turnovers which it converted for 17 points. The Grizzlies committed just six turnovers themselves.

"We played incredible defense the last eight minutes of the first half," Bader said. They came out in the second half and made a little bit of a run and we held our composure."

North Dakota State, as well as Saturday's opponent South Dakota State, were selected for nationally broadcasted games as part of ESPN's Bracketbusters series. The Bison are still without junior guard Taylor Braun, who suffered a foot injury in their win over Oakland Jan. 12.

The Grizzlies' focus must now shift to South Dakota State and guard phenom Nate Wolters, an NBA prospect who scored a Division I-high 53 points Thursday in a win at Fort Wayne. The single-game high was previously held by Bader after a 47-point outburst against IUPUI last month.

"(Wolters) can't do that two nights in a row, can he?" Kampe joked.

The Jackrabbits, the preseason conference favorite and ranked No. 18 in the latest mid-major poll, have never won at the O'rena. Saturday's game tips off at 5 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Detroit.